Investigation of the presence of carbapenemases in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains by MALDI-TOF MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry) and comparison with real-time PCR method

Purpose: We aimed to develop a new procedure for rapid detection of the carbapenemase activity using MALDI-TOF MS, and to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the method. Also, we aimed to determine the distribution of carbapenemase genes among the K.pneumoniae strains isolated in our hospital using real-time PCR. Method: Between January 2017-February 2019; K. pneumoniae strains(n = 74) isolated from blood culture samples were included. Klebsiella pneumoniae NCTC 13438 was used as a positive control and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 as a negative control. First, Imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem MIC values of strains were determined. Then blaKPC, blaOXA- 48, and/or blaNDM genes were investigated with PCR. Carbapenemase activity was investigated in strains with the newly developed method using MALDI-TOF MS. The performance of the new method was evaluated for both the second and fourth hours of the incubation period. Results: While 65 strains were found resistant to tested carbapenems, nine of them were susceptible. Of the 65 resistant strains, 57 had blaOXA-48, 15 had blaNDM, and four had blaKPC genes. BlaOXA- 48 and blaNDM genes were detected together in 11 strains. BlaOXA-48, blaNDM, and blaKPC genes were not detected in any of the susceptible strains. The sensitivity and specificity of MALDI-TOF MS at the second hour were 83.1% and 100%, respectively. At the fourth hour, the sensitivity and specificity of MALDI-TOF MS were 100%. No false-positive results were observed. Conclusion: The sensitivity of the method at the fourth hour was better than the second hour. The false-negative results observed in the second hour disappeared when the incubation period was extended to 4 h. MALDI-TOF MS which is still under development is a fast, cost-effective, promising method for the detection of carbapenemase activity.This research was supported by Ege University Scientific Research Projects (EGE BAP, Ege University, Turkey). Project number: 16-TIP-073.Ege University Scientific Research Projects (EGE BAP, Ege University, Turkey) [16-TIP-073